Papaya fruit can be obtained from a Papaya tree using the farming skill, obtained by killing Jungle Strykewyrms or foraged with a Fruit bat familiar. Papaya can be eaten to heal 500 life points and restore 10 run energy, but they are not usually eaten due to their value.

The main uses for papaya fruit are:

NPC farmers will watch palm trees, which can be grown with level 68 Farming, in exchange for 15 papaya. Because palm trees are commonly grown by players achieving high farming levels, this places large demand on papaya fruit.

Many players choose to use papayas as a way to make money. By using the Fruit Bat familiar and its Fruitfall Scroll (requires 69 Summoning), players can cause fruit to appear around them. This fruit generally contains at least one papaya, which can then be gathered and sold for reasonable profit.